watts



A. E. WATTS. SWIMMING msmucnom MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2/. l9

a N 4% i44w 1 ENTOR. WITNESSES.-

$1M Maw Patented Sept. 16,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A. E. WATTS. SWIMMING INSTRUCTION MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2/. l9I81 PatentedSept. 16, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN V EN TOR.

"WITNESSES A TTORNE YS.

Tm: COLUMRIA PLANnmmlm my, \msmum'u I). c.

A. E. WATTS.

SWIMMING INSTRUCTION MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. me.

1,3 1 6 ,524. Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WITNESSES: 3 IN @NTOR.

A. 5 wms. SWIMMING INSTRUCTION MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2 19m- 6SHEETS-SHEET 4- WITNESSES.-

A TTORNE YS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

A. E. WAT-TS.

SWIMMING INSTRUCTION MACHINE} APPLICATION FILED JULY 2 I 1 ,3 1 6, 524.Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

I 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\L'I I '6 III) WITNESSES: I ENTOR. MMW

Jaw/Z f 14 207514.

Tm: mwmna PLANOGRAPII cm. WIQSIHNGTON. [3 c.

A. E. wms. I SWIMMING INSTRUCTION MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,19IB- Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

UNM

III: llllll.\llill ll IIIIIIIII I IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES.- zm A/ @M ym lrfefim THE COLUMBIA FLANQGRAPH c0. WASHINn'roN,r). c.

UNITED ALFRED E. wears, 01w

SWIMMfIl'G-JNS'IRUCTION MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1 6, 1919.

Application fil ed my 27, 1918. Serial No. 247,042.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED E. lVATTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Swimming-InstructionMachines, of which I do hereby declare the following to be aspecification. 7

My invention relates to swimming instruction apparatus andhas for itsobject the provision of apparatus to be used on land for forcing thestudent through the movements of swimming, moving his arms and legs inperfect unison and in such manner and at such times with relation toeach other, and with such repetition'as to impress upon his mind acorrect lmowledge of the operation, and to create or develop in thestudent a tendency to unhesitatingly employ such movements when heenters the water, as a re-' sult of which he will accomplish the act ofswimming. My invention is particularly adapted to teach the movementsemployed in i the well-known breast-stroke style of swim ming, whereinthe swimmer lies breast downward and extends his arms and handsforwardly from points near his shoulders, sweeping them at full lengthfrom the forward position laterally and backward, at the same timedrawing up his knees and kicking-'backwardly. ll ith this, and otherobjects "in view, my invention consists of the constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

i In the drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view of a machineembodying my invention, showing the movable parts thereof at theposition corresponding to the position of the students fully extendedarms when nearly at the limit of their-lateral and backward sweep. Fig.2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of said machine showing themoving parts thereof in approximatelythe same positionas in Fig. 1. Fig.3 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of one side of said machine,showing one of the hereinafter described arm operators in the positioncorresponding to the beginning of. the students arm stroke. Fig. i, is aview similar to Fig. 3, except that said arm operator is shown in theposition corresponding to the position of the students arm whenfullyextended and moved only a short distance along its lateral andbackward path from its farthest forward position. 1 Fig. 5 is afragmentary vertical section on the line AB' of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is afragmentary vertical section on the line CD of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is adetail perspective view of the heroinafter described spring-coupledblocks or carriage, shown in the position corresponding to Figs. 3, 5and 6. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view'showing portions of thehereinafter described power transmission gear. Fig. 9 is'a plan view ofa modified form of carriage which may, if desired, be employed insteadof the form or structure shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is an end view of saidmodified forn Fig. 11 is a transverse section of said modified form ofsaid carriage supporting arm, on the line EF, of Fig. 9. L ig. '12 is aside elevation of said modified form of carriage and arm. Fig. 18 is aside elevation of said modified form of carriage and arm, showing amodified form of track rail which may be employed instead of the form ofhereinafter described track rail shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. Fig. 1a isan end view of the hereinafter described guide or track wheel adapted torun on said modified form of track, and of a portion of the track railon which it runs.

In the drawings, 1 is a frame of any suitable construction, whereon ismounted a rotatable main power shaft 2, which said shaft may be rotatedby any suitable means, as by a motor 2, and a worm 2* driven by saidmotor and engaging ,a worm wheel 2" mounted on said shaft and adapted toturn therewith; or, if preferred, said shaft may be manually rotated bymeans of a crank 52?. Said shaft is provided with journal boxes of anysuitable number or construction as 2*. Mounted upon one end of saidshaft is a gear 2. Mounted in bearings of any suitable constructionsecured to said frame is a transversely-directed rotatable transmissionshaft 3, upon which is mounted a gear 3 adapted to rotate therewithandto engage and be driven by said gear 2 Said shaft 3 is provided witha crank 23 of any suitable construction whereby power from said shaft 3may be transmitted through a connecting rod 4. to a rockbar or leverhmounted upon said frame. Upon said shaft- 3 are also mounted gears 8 and3 adapted to turn with said shaft 3; said gear. 3 being adapted toengage and turn a gear 6 mounted upon a vertical shaft 6 and adapted toturn therewith, and said gear 8' being adapted to engage a gear 7mounted upon a vertical shaft 7 and adapted to turn therewith, theconstructlon and arrangement of parts being such thatthe shafts 6 and?turn whichin cooperation with hereinafter described guides operateasarin and hand e0ntrols. Since the mechanisms mounted upon said shaft 6are for operatingthe students left arm and hand and correspond to thenaechanisms mounted upon said shaft .7 for operating the students rightarmand hand, it is not believed necessary to describe the left armmechanism further than to say-that the left arm mechanism operates inunison with .the right arm mechanism in an opposite direction.

Upon the upper end of said shaft 7 1s preferably mounted. a transverseor radially- ,directedguide of any suitable; structure, as

sleeves 7 which guide is adapted to turn With said shaft 7, and which.guide engages and supports a reoiprocable arm or lever 8 of any suitableconstruction. Mounted upon the outer end of said lever is a carriage ofany suitable construction preferably comprising a rigidly mountedblock 8and intermediate of said block and said guide 7 a slidable block 8*,which blocks arelcoupled together by any suitable tension means whichwill tend to draw them together-but permit, them to separate .a limiteddistance, as by, one or more springs 8. Depending from said block 8 is aguide wheelS, and depending from said block 8 is a guide Wheel .8 ofany. suitable form or structure. Said guide wheels are adapted toengagerespectively the outer and inner sides of an approximatelyelliptical track or cam rail-9, which. track follows acoursecorresponding to thecourse followed in the breaststroke by aswimmers right hand. Said track is supported on said frame inanysuitable manner, as by a spider 9. Said track surrounds said guide 7"longitudinally thereof, and it will thus be apparent that since saidguide 7 rotates with said shaft 7 said blocks 8 and 8 will, by means ofthe reciprocable arm or lever 8, be swung in a planeparallel to saidtrack, and by means-of saidguide Wheels 8 and 8 will be held incoursesparallel to the course of said rail 9. Erected upon either ofsaid blocks 8 or 8, is a pin 10 which is stationary withrespect to theblock upon which it is erected. Mounted upon the forward end of saidframe 1 is a centrally positioned longitudinally extending guide rod 11upon which is mounted a slidable block 12 in which block is fixed one ormore transversely disposed guide rods 13 extendin on each side of saidblock at right angle sto said rod 11 and. above said track-9. Mountedupon said pin 10 is a guide follower of any suitable structure adaptedto Upon the upper endsof said shafts engage said guide 18, as a guidewheel 1 1 interposed between the parallel rods 13, whereby themovement-"of the spring-coupled blocks and pin 10 around the course ofsaid rail 9 will be translated into a reciprocating movement of theblock 12 along said rod 11. Mounted. upon said rod or rods 13 is areciprocable base plate 15 provided at its end nearest said'block 12,with an eye engaging said pin 10,- bywhich the. motion of the spring-coupled blocks parallel tothe course of saidrail is translated. into areciprocating movement of said base-plate along saidrod or rods 13.Loosely mounted upon said pin lOiis a table16through'which said pinvextends, and positioned at: one end of said table is a handrest 17hinged at one .side by means of a hinge rod. 16": to said table;16.Extending at;the same end but.

opposite side from "said tab1e161is a lip 16" adapted to limit the dropof the freeside of said hand rest. Mounted upon said hand restareshallow bridges 17 a and 17 secured towhich. bridges and extendingacross said handrest is a hand retaining strip;17,.of any, suitablematerial. i

In orderto oscillate said table 16 on said pinlO sov as. to keep saidhand rest-in line with the students forearm at all times withoutmuscular effort, said table is provided at its opposite end with a lever16, to'which is connected one: end of a bell crank lever 18, theopposite end or heel of which is journaled on a post 15 erected on saidbase plate .15. To the free arm of said bellcrank lever is pivotallyconnected one end ofsecond lever19, theopposite end of which ispivotall-yengaged by? a second post 15 erected on said base plate 15.Intermediate of the ends .ofsaid lever 19, there is pivotally connectedthereto a thrust arm 20 extending therefrom in the direction of said pin10 and provided near il'tSvOIJ-POSllTG: end with an anti-friction wheel20 adapted to bear against the pe-.

riphery of a cam 21 keyed to said pin 10 above said-table 16. The freeend of said arm 20 is forked to engage-said pin 10. A spring 22 isengaged at one end by said base plate 15 and at the opposite end by oneof said levers, as by said bell-crank lever, for

keeping said anti-friction wheel'20 in constant pressure contact withsaid cam 21. It will be observed, therefore, that although said cam 21does not rotate around said pin 10, it does rotate around the prolongedaxis of shaft 7 and thus its greater and lesser diameters aresuccessively presented tosaid anti-friction wheel-'20?resulting, whenthe greater diameter of said cam is so presented, 1.

in theyoscillation of said table 16 in one direction, while when thelesser' diameter of said cam is so presented, said spring 220peratcsthroughthe engaged lovers to oscillate said table16 in the oppositedirection, the structure being such that the central longitudinal axisof said table 16 and hand flexible support may be adjusted. The rearrestis kept in line with the central longitudinal axis of the students rightforearm as'he makes the stroke.

When starting his stroke the swimmers hand is assumed to be palmdownybut after his arm has been extended forwardly full length andcommences to make the lateral and backward sweep the palm should beturned outwardly with the thumb side down. To effect thiswithoutmuscular effort, I

. erect on said hand'rest 17, a finger 17 adapted ,atsuitable times tobe engaged by a cam 17 keyed to said pin 10, whereby "said hand restis'tilted on its side hinge 16 during the outward and backward sweep ofthe arm of the student, said cam 17 passing 'by said finger 17 andpermitting the free side of said, hand rest to drop upon the lip 16during the retraction of the students hand toward his shoulder andduring the forward movement of his-hand'from a position near'theshoulder to full arm forward position. i a i Mounted upon said framein rear and above saidarm and hand-operating mechanisms is a stationarybed or body support 23 :of any suitable structure for supporting thebody of the student in prone position, upon which bed 'is mounted anadjustable head rcstpreferably comprising a pad 23 secured to rods 23which rods are adapted ward end of said flexible support is secured to aspreader bar 25 extending transversely of said frame 1 and mounted atitsopposite ends'on carriages 25 25 adapted to movelongitudinally ofsaid frame 1 on stationary guides as 25 secured to said frame.

Depending from a carriage connecting bar 25 are forks26. Journaled onsaid frame 1 is a rock frame comprising a transversely directed rockshaft 27, posts 27 27 erected on said rock shaft, anda head bar 27mounted on said posts, said head bar being parallel to said rock shaftand to said spreader and being closely straddled by said forks. In orderto rock said rock frame, Iprovide the rock lever -5 rigidlysecured tosaid rock shaft. Upon said rock lever is mounted an adjustable sleeve 5*adapted to be fixedat a greater or less elevation thereon by anysultablemeans as by a set screw 5 Pivotally secured at one end to saidsleeve is the connecting rod at, the opposite end of which rod isjournaled on the crank 3 interposed inthe power transmission shaft 3. Itwill be observed that said rock frame operates to move said spreadertoward or away from said bed, thus contracting or expanding said legsupport longitudinally. Secured to said leg support at its rearward endare footholds of any suitable construction as straps 28 adapted toengage the ankles or feet of the student. Thus whenthe leg support iscontracted the student will be forced to bend his legs at the knees, atthe same time the flexlble support will be slackened, so that his kneescan be depressed. When the leg support is expanded the student will beforced to straighten his legs and at the same time the flexible supportwill become taut or flattened, thus continuing to give the legs propersupport in their straightened position. It is also desirable that thestudent should part his knees when he bends his legs, to compel which, aforwardly project ing centrally positioned arm 29 is rigidly secured tosaid spreader below said flexible support. Whensaid spreader movesforward to bend thestudents legs, said flexible support sags down uponsaidarm 29 which in a measure supports it along its longitudinal axisbut permits it to drop lower at each side. .The shallow, rounded ridgethus formed in said flexible support tends to part the students knees.

It will be observed that said arm 8 is reciprocable and is adapted toyield in one direction to the pull exerted by the block 8 and guidewheel8 in cooperation with the outer side of the track rail, and toyield in the opposite direction to the pull at other moments of theblock 8" and guide wheel 8 in cooperation with the inner side of thetrack rail, such latter pull being transmitted fromrsaid block 8" tosaid arm 8 through said tension springs 8. In Figs. 9, 10 and 12 areshown a. modified form of track guided carriage and supporting arm andarm guide therefor, in which said guide comprises a bar 30 rigidlysecured to said shaft 7, and said carriage supporting arm comprisesparallel reciprocable bars 31, 31

engaging said guide at opposite sides, said bars being adjustablyconnected together by end pieces 31*,319 'Mounted upon one end of saidarm is a carriage comprising a fork 32, in which is journaled a groovedguide wheel 33 adapted to bear upon the top of said rail 9 and engageboth sides thereof.

Formed on or secured to said fork is said pin 10. In Figs. 13 and 14 isshown a modified form of said track comprising a grooved track rail 34adapted to engage an overhead flanglessguide wheel 35 journ'aled in saidfork.

It-is obvious that said structure and cerj tain' parts thereof maybe'further modified In operation, the student lies face down upon saidbed,i-preferablyresting-hisforepbrt, lof a longitudinal ly extendingbody rest headupon said head rest, and is preferably secured to' saidbed by abelt tohprevent slippingx Thest-udent lays his handsupon saidhand" rests ivithin the loops of the hand retaining strips and his feetare secured by the foot strapsatthe spreader'bar and: the machine IStlIBH set 111'TI10tI011 by said motor or E by said hand crank 52,whereupon without special muscular effort or mental study the studentsarins, hands and limbs will be forced by the apparatusthrough thermovements suitable to the breast stroke style-of swimming.

WhatIclaim is' v 1; The combination with a' suitable frame, ofatrack-supported on said'frame near the forward end thereof, said trackbeing. positioned at one side of the'eentral longitudinal axis out saidframe, said track describing a course corresponding: approximatelyto-the course ofmovenientof OIIQ'Of the handsofa syvimmer'in thebreast-strokestyle oii-s vimming; a centra-lly positioned longitudinallyextending stationary guide mounted upon the forward end of saidi'i'amen'earsaid track,'a slidab'le block engaged-by said longitiidinalguide, a" giiide member or members carried bysaid *blotzleand extendingacross said 1011- gitudinal guide and over" said: track and overthea-re'a inclosedthereby, a rotatable shaft'journaled on said =fi'a1neand extending at right angles to the radial plane of said traek and'into the areainclosed thereby,

m'ean'sfor rotatingrsaid'shaft, a radially disposed armcarried bysaidshaft and'adapted to extend over said track, a carriage mounted on saidarm, tra'ck engzitgingmeans secured to said carriage 'and'adapted'toengage said 'tracktodiold said" carriage at all times in 'posi'tion overthe track rail, a fixedpin-or post erected on saidcarriag -a guidefollower' mounted on said pin and adapted to engage" said transverselydirected guide member or members, said follower being --adapte'd*duringits movement with said carriagd along said-track tdcause saidtrans-'verse guide'inember and its'slidable block supportto move back andforthalong' said longitudinally directed guide, a tablejournaled on saidpin, a tiltable hand rest supported by said table at one end thereof,

'me'ans including a: cam formed'on or keyed was to said pin fortilting'said handrst at inter'vals, a slidable base mounted on saidtransverse guide,-one endof: said base being engaged bysaidpin,a*secoiidcam formed on or keyeditosaid pin, leversmountedon said slidable" baseand connectedto said table and adapted to be actuated by saidfsecorfbed,a reciprocablefoot support in. rear of StLlCl body rest, arm and handoperating means positioneddforwardly of said body rest, saidoperatingrineans being adapted to move theusers'arms at hisshoulders andelbowsvand to turnhishands: pivotal'ly at his Wrists as .inthe act ofbreast strokelswimining, said-foot support beingyadaptedito bend andstraighten the legs of a user as in the act of breaststroke swimming, iand means for synchronously operating said arm operating means and:footisupport to cause the user to bend and straighten his-legs andextend and i retract 1 his arms as in the act of breast-strokeswimmingSu-The combination with a suitable support, of a body rest or bed,longitudinally .directed guides mounted one said support rearwardlyofsaid zbed, longitudinally movable' carriages.- mounted; Oi1=St1Clguides,a

-tr a-nsversely directed-rod10r bar adapted to be movedlongitudinallyofisaid support by said carriages, a'flexible 'legisupportin rear of said bed,xsaid:leg supportabeingsecured at itsend farthestfrom said bed'to said transverse bar, and means for moving, saidcarriages back and forth along said zguides.

4t. The combination With a suitable support,- of a 'bodyrest'orbedmounted thereon and adapted .to sustaiiithe 'body of the user, alongitudinally directed centrally positionedstationary guide mounted onsaid support forward of'said bed, a-ytrack mounted on said support I atthe left of said :longitudinal guide, said track describingya coursecorresponding approximately to the course of movement of a swimmersleft-hand in swimningsiii breast-stroke style, atrackmounted on-saidsupport f at the-right of saidilongitu-dinal guide, the; latter trackdescribing a course corresponding approximately to the course ofmovement of a swimmers right hand. when swimming in breast-stroke style,a i lefthand 1 rest, iineans for supporting saidlG'flJ'llflild'l'BSbflbQVG/ said left-track and for swingi'nglsaid lefthand rest ina course parallel: andiconcentrie torsaid left track in adirection opposite to the normal direction of movement of clock hands,-aright hand ;rest, means forsupporting said right hand rest above saidright-traok-and for swingingsaid r-ightharidrest in a course paralleland concentric to said right track in a direction lzs similar to thenormal direction of: movement of clock hands, means for oscillating saidhand: rests duringtheir progress so as to keep their longitudinal axesdirected toward said bed, a movable foot support mounted on said framerearwardly of said bed, and means for moving foot support toward andaway from said bed.

5. The combination with a suitable frame of tracks mounted upon theforward end thereof at opposite sides respectively of the longitudinalaxis of said frame, hand rests positioned adjacent to said tracksrespec:

tively, means for supporting one of said hand rests, said means beingada ted in cooperation with the respectively L j'acent track to swingsaid hand rest in a course parallel to said track, means for supportingthe other of said hand rests, the latter said means being adapted toswing said other hand rest in a course parallel to the respectivelyadjacent said track, and means for tilting said hand rests during aportion of their swinging movement.

6. The combination with a suitable frame, of a body support mountedthereon; arm governing means mounted upon said frame forward of saidbody support, said means being adapted to engage the users hands andextend, diverge, flex and retract his arms as in the act ofbreast-stroke swimming; leg governing means comprising a transverselydirected adjustable support mounted on said frame in rear of said bodysupport, a rearwardly extending flexible leg support secured at itsforward end to said adjustablesupport, a reciprocable support for therear ward end of said flexible support, means including a rock frame forreciprocating said reciprocable support longitudlnally of said frametoward and away from said body support, said flexible support beingadapted to sag downwardly when said reciprocable support is moved towardsaid body support, mean carried by said reciprooable support andextending beneath said flexible support for limiting the sag of saidflexible support along its longitudinal axis for part of its length,means for securing the feet of the user at the rearward end of saidflexible support; and means common to said leg governing means and tosaid arm governing means for operating said leg governing means and saidarm governing means synchronously.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

ALFRED E. WATTS. Witnesses:

CHAS. B. AsKn, JAMES T. WATSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ratents,

Washington, D. 0.

